Identification of Bacterial Species Using 16S rRNA Sequence Analysis

In this lesson, students explore how scientists identify bacteria by analyzing the 16S ribosomal RNA gene. Through hands-on activities and bioinformatics tools, students learn the process of extracting bacterial DNA, amplifying the 16S rRNA gene using PCR, and using online databases (e.g., BLAST) to compare sequences and determine bacterial species. The lesson emphasizes the importance of molecular techniques in microbiology, real-world applications in health and environmental science, and critical thinking through data interpretation and post-lab reflection.